Over the past few weeks it seems that the world has gone mad. In many parts of the world, individuals and groups of people have become victims of terror, be it in Israel, France, Mali, or Lebanon. They, like so many others around the globe, are the victims of what sometimes appears to be on-going evil acts.
We express our solidarity with the residents of Paris and the citizens of France for whom this is the second outrage in 2015. It is an attack on the freedoms and ethical way of life - at the heart of Jewish teaching - by which innocent people in every country would seek to live.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of all those murdered, and with prayers for the wounded and traumatized. May the All-Present God bring them strength and comfort among those who mourn in Zion and Jerusalem.
We commend the efforts of all of those in public service who tend the wounded, comfort the bereaved, protect the vulnerable, and work to pursue the perpetrators. We call upon Jews, Christians, Muslims, Hindus and those of all faiths and none to endorse the values of pluralism and democracy which require respect of others, respect for the rule of law and the rejection of terror. We hope all decent human beings can have the courage to say about acts of terror: ‘Not in Our Name’.
Living in frightening and dangerous times, we seek our strength in solidarity with all people of good will: in prayer, in the study of Torah, and in working for compassion, justice and peace.
Eternal God, as we appreciate the world is a partnership between You and humanity so do we call for the unity of all people of compassion and decency to fulfil the vision expressed in the metaphorical hope of the Biblical Hebrew Prophet, Micah (4:4): "And each shall sit under their vine and fig tree, and none shall make them afraid."
Masorti Beit Din of Australasia and Asia
Rabbi David Kunin- Jewish Community of Japan
Rabbi Jeffrey Kamins- Emanuel Synagogue
Rabbi Adam Stein- Kehillat Nitzan
Rabbi Daniel Siegel- Emanuel School
Rabbi Jeffrey Cohen
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